Man’s death in custody linked to ancient curse
bishop’s hex to anyone who damaged cathedral
Published:
The death in police custody of a man suspected of vandalising Dornoch Cathedral has led to speculation that a curse, said to have been laid in mediaeval times, has struck again.
Gilbert de Moravia, Bishop of Caithness, invoked a solemn curse “upon those who destroy and injure" the fabric of the 13th-century building in his deed declaring the foundation of the cathedral, which was completed in 1239.
When the much-respected warrior-cleric died in 1245, he was interred beneath the floor of the cathedral. He was subsequently made a saint.
Daryl Shearer, a 19-year-old arrested for allegedly vandalising and stealing money from the ancient building on Friday, October 24, died mysteriously in a police cell in Dingwall later the same weekend, while awaiting a court appearance. A post-mortem examination has been carried out. No cause of death has been released.
Back in 1570, St Gilbert’s curse was said to have struck down landowner William Sutherland, of Evelix, near Dornoch. During the sacking of the cathedral by the Mackays of Strathnaver and retainers of the Earl of Caithness, Sutherland had joined in and kicked over St Gilbert's bones. According to local tradition, the very foot that perpetrated the deed rotted away, creating such a stench that no one would go near Sutherland as he died a slow, agonising death.
Sue Higgins, curator at the local museum, said she was aware of stories about the curse, but added: “I personally have not heard any speculation locally about what happened more recently.”
The Rev Susan Brown, minister at the Church of Scotland cathedral said she did not know of the tale. She distanced herself from any talk of a curse, adding: “I don’t know if he was responsible, but the fact a young man has died at such an early age is incredibly sad and sobering.”
